Vivian Tortorici, Hudson Valley's Dean of the School of Health Sciences and School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Phil White, Hudson Valley's Dean of the School of Business and School of Engineering and Industrial Technologies, and Marjorie Lavin, Empire State College's Dean of the Northeast Region (left to right) sign an articulation agreement between the two colleges. Standing (left to right) are Kathleen Sweener, Hudson Valley's Director of the Center for Counseling and Transfer, Patricia Pillsworth, Empire State College's Assistant to the Dean, Margaret Geehan, Hudson Valley's Assistant to the Vice President of Academic Affairs, and Kate Reis, Empire State College's Outreach and Recruitment Specialist.

Empire State College and Hudson Valley Community College have signed an agreement that facilitates the transfer of Hudson Valley students to Empire State College's four-year programs. The agreement will also make it easier for community college students who are studying online to continue earning their degrees via distance education at Empire State College, which specializes in degrees for adult students with work, family and community obligations.

Hudson Valley Community College offers 12 degrees or certificates online. An additional 14 associate degree programs at the college offer more than 75 percent of their courses online.

The articulation agreement recognizes that students may not be able to complete their bachelor's degree program at one college. It provides students with a quality education that combines programs at both colleges, providing a way for students who begin their studies at the associate level to earn a four-year degree. It further facilitates transfer for Hudson Valley students studying in 54 different associate degree programs, ranging from business and liberal arts to health sciences and the technologies. The agreement was signed earlier this month.

"This collaboration affirms our dedication to promoting academic, professional and personal success for our students," said Carolyn Curtis, vice president for academic affairs at Hudson Valley Community College. "The articulation agreement assures that students completing an associate in arts, associate in science or associate of applied science degree at Hudson Valley Community College can transfer to Empire State College, thereby promoting an easy transition of qualified students from Hudson Valley to bachelor's degree programs at Empire State College."

Said Dean Marjorie Lavin, "I am delighted to conclude this agreement with Hudson Valley Community College, which serves a diverse population of adult students. At Empire State College, we are committed to supporting these transfer students in their pursuit of a bachelor's degree. We have served many Hudson Valley graduates over the years and this agreement enables us to serve more who seek educational and professional advancement."

Present from Hudson Valley Community College were Vivian Tortorici, dean, School of Health Sciences and School of Liberal Arts and Sciences; Kathleen Sweener, director of student development; Phillip White, dean, School of Business, School of Engineering and Industrial Technologies; and Margaret Geehan, assistant to the vice president for academic affairs. Representing Empire State College were Marjorie Lavin, interim dean of Empire State College's Northeast Center; Kate Reis, outreach and recruitment coordinator; and Patricia Pillsworth, assistant to the dean.

For additional information on Hudson Valley Community College's programs and services, contact the Admissions office at (518) 629-7309. For more information on Empire State College's programs, please call Patricia Pillsworth at (518) 783-6203.

Empire State College offers motivated adults the opportunity to earn associate, bachelor's and master's degrees. Through a combination of face-to-face meetings with faculty, online courses and small study groups students can study anytime and anywhere. They also may earn credit for college-level learning from work and life. The college serves 16,000 students at 35 locations across New York state and through its Center for Distance Learning. The college serves the Capital region through its Northeast Center at 21 British American Boulevard, Latham, and through additional locations at the Empire State Plaza, in Albany, Glens Falls/Queensbury, Johnstown, Saratoga Springs and Schenectady. With more than 50,000 alumni, Empire State College is the SUNY solution for adults. For more information on Empire State College please visit our web site: www.esc.edu.

Founded in 1953, Hudson Valley Community College offers more than 70 degree and certificate programs in four schools: Business; Engineering and Industrial Technologies; Health Science; and Liberal Arts and Sciences; and an Educational Opportunity Center for academic and career training. One of 30 community colleges in the State University of New York system, it has an enrollment of more than 12,000 students, and is known as a leader in distance learning initiatives and workforce training. Hudson Valley has more than 60,000 alumni.